Emirati Solar Impulse team member begins Pacific adventure

Delay out of Nanjing had team read to move on to next leg of solar plane's trip around the world.

After a graceful take-off in Nanjing, China, on Saturday, Solar Impulse 2 began the Pacific leg of its round-the-world voyage, with the US islands state of Hawaii its destination. Reuters

HONOLULU // Allow me to go back a week before I moved from Nanjing to Hawaii.

The team and I have been anticipating what we call the moment of truth, the leg from Nanjing to Hawaii, for quite some time. Everyone is working really hard for this transition and, in my opinion, the team is ready to move on to the next chapter.

However, the ones who were under the biggest strain were the meteorologist and engineers at the mission control centre (MCC).

I was asked frequently by journalists, friends and peers why the plane was not taking off, when the weather was seemingly fair in Nanjing, and Hawaii has almost-perfect weather all year round. But it’s not just about those two factors. There is the weather route between the destinations that we need to account for as well.

As it is the Pacific Ocean we are attempting to conquer, it’s quite the challenge having fair weather that the aircraft can endure for five consecutive days and nights.

We had hoped to take off on May 25. However, it seemed that it wasn’t possible due to the long route the pilot would have taken, and after calculations it would have taken him seven days to arrive.

We always say that in theory, the aircraft can fly perpetually due to its solar power and how it consumes energy. The obstacle here is purely human tolerance.

Both pilots have gone through several simulations that lasted for days inside a cockpit, but seven days is beyond anyone’s capacity. In addition, we go through what we call weight management of the plane, and taking on more necessities adds more weight, which might affect its performance and consume more energy.

I left Nanjing for Hawaii about a week ago. It is a place I believe I can stay in for a little longer if needed.

By now I think my friends and teammates are envying me for the lucky circumstances I am enjoying.

Follow my Instagram and Twitter handles @HasanRTW

Hasan Al Redaini, 25, works for group communications at Mubadala. He is travelling with the Solar Impulse team to assist in solar-energy lectures and demonstrations in each of the 12 countries the team is visiting.